Good Versus Evil
In Ancient Egypt, they did not have a "good versus evil" concepts as we do in modern times.
Yes, there was "evil", usually in the forms of enemies of the state or those that would do you wrong.
However, the Ancient Egyptians recognized a battle that was not really about good or evil,
but of Order (Ma'at) and Chaos (Isfet).
In the Ancient Egyptian creation stories, the Creator God became self-realized from within the Nun (the Nothing)
and it was at that moment that Creation began. And because creation came from the Creator God
nothing within creation is "evil."
However, there are forces (isfet -- disorder) that try to bring Creation back to the Nun, by
going after the very foundation of Creation, Ma'at. If the foundation is chipped away,
Creation has nothing for its basis, and thus becomes destroyed.
Isfet comes about by certain types of behaviours, such as: lying, cheating, slander.
Humans are extremely susceptible to isfet, which is why the importance of
ma'at was always emphasized by the Ancient Egptians.
Misconceptions about Good & Evil
Because the Ancient Egyptians concept of order/disorder don't fit into our modern concepts of 'good/evil'
there seems to be a tendency to cast different Netjer into "evil" roles that were not considered "evil" by the Ancient Egyptians.
All of the Netjeru have a responsibility to hold uphold and abide by ma'at; it was their food, drink, and breath. None could
perpetuate isfet, for it would mean the destruction of Creation, and thus of themselves.
The god, Set/Sutekh, is a good example of this stereotyping, because of the stories where he kills his brother, Wesir/Osiris
for the throne, Set is seen as a "evil" god. However, upon actually reading the stories and the histories of the Ancient Egyptians,
we find that Set is not evil. Even Ra, the father of all the gods, sees nothing wrong with Set as king, when Heru/Horus comes to claim
his father's throne, stating that Set was the stronger and has therefore made the throne his own and originally dismisses Heru's claim.
It is only by seven years of trials between Set and Heru that Heru wins his father's throne.
While the Ancient Egyptians often admonished each other to not have "Set's temper" or "Set's anger", he was seen
as a necessary part of the balance, and Set's strength and cunning were much needed especially when it came down
to defeating enemies.
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